Tag: Willie Anderson

Bengals great Willie Anderson mentored NFL draft prospect Paris Johnson Jr.

A fun connection between a draft prospect and a Bengals great.

Cincinnati Bengals great Willie Anderson has his fingerprints all over the 2023 NFL draft class in a big way.

Ohio State Buckeyes offensive tackle Paris Johnson Jr. revealed this week that Anderson actually took him under his wing when he was just 15 years old.

Fox Sports’ Peter Schrager wrote the following: “Paris Johnson, Jr. just told a good story on @GMFB. Before his sophomore HS season, he was introduced to @Bengals legend Willie Anderson. Anderson, then, had a 15-year-old young buck come down to Atlanta, took him under his wing, and trained him to play O line all summer long.”

It’s an awesome story and one sure to pop up time and again as we get closer to the draft.

Anderson, a Bengals Ring of Honor inductee and a two-time finalist for the Pro Football Hall of Fame, clearly helped in a big way. His Bengals won’t have a shot at Johnson, the borderline consensus No. 1 lineman in the class who could come off the board as early as the top five.

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Giants’ Evan Neal training with former All-Pro Willie Anderson

New York Giants RT Evan Neal is training with four-time All-Pro Willie Anderson this offseason and has debuted a new stance.

The New York Giants have addressed most of their pressing issues this offseason with one lone exception: the offensive line.

There have been a plethora of signings, returns and trades but almost no attention has been paid to the O-line, it seems. In fact, the unit has only grown weaker with the losses of Nick Gates (Washington Commanders) and Jon Feliciano (San Francisco 49ers), leaving the Giants without a true center.

Expectations are that general manager Joe Schoen will address that position in the 2023 NFL draft but even then, the current offensive line inspires little confidence outside of left tackle Andrew Thomas.

The Giants could benefit greatly from a Thomas-like turnaround from right tackle Evan Neal, whose rookie season was marred by injury and inconsistency.

Some have already (and unjustly) written Neal off as a bust but that’s quite premature. Neal still has all of the attributes necessary to become a solid tackle in the NFL and he’s taking nothing for granted this offseason.

Finally feeling a bit more healthy, Neal has begun training with retired NFL offensive lineman and four-time All-Pro, Willie Anderson.

As part of that training, Neal has debuted a new stance.

Anderson also praised Neal and expressed faith that he will not only turn things around but that he will become a dominant tackle in the NFL.

“Been around Evan Neal,” Anderson wrote. “(I) know he has it. We’re playing around with his stance. He’ll eventually get into a stance he feels comfortable with. Long, big guys like him and (Andrew Whitworth) are not human and have a significant advantage because of their feet. He’s going to get (it).”

Anderson also gave a shout-out to Giants offensive line coach Bobby Johnson for encouraging Neal to reach out and train with retired players who previously dominated at the NFL level.

“Shout-out to his O-line coach, Bobby Johnson, of the Giants for encouraging him to (work with) his people in the offseason,” Anderson wrote. “Can’t thank him enough for wanting his guys to get better and not having the ego usually associated with O-line coaches about ‘their guys.’ Salute, Bobby.”

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Willie Anderson sheds Hall of Fame snub to celebrate Ken Riley

Some awesome thoughts from Willie Anderson about Ken Riley and the Hall of Fame.

Cincinnati Bengals great Willie Anderson isn’t sweating missing on the Pro Football Hall of Fame for the second year in a row as a finalist.

After all, fellow Bengals great Ken Riley finally just got enshrined after a massive wait, becoming the second player in team history to enter the hall.

Asked about the situation, Anderson said the moment is a fantastic one even if he didn’t get his just yet.

“I’m in a good mood because Kenny Riley is in,” Anderson said, according to Geoff Hobson of Bengals.com. “Because I know what it meant for him. He mentioned it to me before he passed away. The only sad part about it is he’s not here to see it, but I talk to his son. We text. They’re excited. They’ve been pushing for me, pulling for me and we’ve all been pulling for them. Tonight’s a great feeling. I know what that man meant. I love when the greats who came before me get honored.”

It’s an awesome note from Anderson, one of the best right tackles of his era. And even if it’s not a focus at this very moment, he’s got a very good chance to enter the hall next year now that the logjam at offensive line has cleared.

Odds are good Anderson will be a finalist for a third straight year, especially now that it feels like a logjam of Bengals has actually broken in this modernized era for the franchise, too.

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Willie Anderson’s Hall of Fame bid comes up short again in 2nd year as finalist

Bengals great Willie Anderson will have to wait at least one more year.

Cincinnati Bengals great Willie Anderson’s Hall of Fame bid fell short on Thursday night at the NFL Honors.

Anderson, a finalist for the second year in a row, was a top-10 pick by the Bengals in 1996 and one of the best right tackles of his generation. He was also the first member of the franchise on the ballot since 1998 (Anthony Munoz and Ken Anderson ).

Anderson joined fellow former Bengals standout Ken Riley on the ballot, with Riley one of three senior candidates.

With Joe Thomas getting the nod and further clearing the logjam along the offensive line, there’s increased hope next year is Anderson’s year to get a gold jacket.

Riley, the 65-interception legend, became the second Bengals player in franchise history to get elected to the Hall, joining Anthony Munoz.

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Chiefs’ Eric Bieniemy endorses Bengals legend Willie Anderson for Hall of Fame

More respect for Bengals great Willie Anderson before the NFL Honors.

The Cincinnati Bengals hope that Thursday’s Pro Football Hall of Fame class reveal includes the legendary Willie Anderson.

And the team isn’t the only one hoping to see it.

Anderson is one of 15 modern-era finalists and as one of the best offensive tackles of his generation feels long overdue for enshrinement.

Chiefs offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy agrees after being asked whether Anderson deserves the nod.

“Of course he is,” Bieniemy said, according to Geoff Hobson of Bengals.com. “First of all, he played at a high level his whole entire career. He played against some dominant players and he did a heck of job of keeping the quarterback upright and in that time, too, he also blocked for some dominating runners.”

Call it small proof anyone with an understanding of the game knows Anderson should get his gold jacket.

Anderson seemed a bit lost in an offensive lineman logjam that has cleared in recent years. And as more respect gets paid to dominant right tackles given their importance in all facets too, he’s started to break through.

The Bengals could be fortunate enough to see two enshrinements at the NFL Honors, with the legendary Ken Riley one of three senior candidates.

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Bengals great Willie Anderson again named Hall of Fame finalist

Willie Anderson is one of two Bengals greats with a serious shot this year.

Cincinnati Bengals great Willie Anderson is a finalist for the Pro Football Hall of Fame for the second year in a row.

The NFL announced the finalists on Wednesday, with the final vote set to unfold in January.

Anderson, a top-10 pick by the Bengals in 1996, is one of the better right tackles of all time and last year was the first member of the franchise on the ballot since Anthony Munoz and Ken Anderson in 1998.

That makes it two former Bengals as finalists this year, as Anderson joins senior finalist Ken Riley on the January 17 ballot. Both must receive 80 percent approval from the Hall’s Board of Selectors to help overcome the fact the Bengals have the fewest players of any team in the Hall of Fame.

This is an especially great chance for Anderson to get in, as the offensive line logjam has cleared in recent years. The only other lineman finalist is former Browns great Joe Thomas.

Anderson and Isaac Curtis were inductees into Cincinnati’s Ring of Honor this year.

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Willie Anderson reveals Bengals fans helped mend his relationship with team

Willie Anderson says the fans helped repair his relationship with the Bengals.

Cincinnati Bengals great Willie Anderson played his last snap with the team in 2007 but says he didn’t really start to repair his relationship with the team until around 2016.

And that only happened because of the fans.

As Bengals fans will surely never forget, after an illustrious career with the Bengals, Anderson played just a single season with the Baltimore Ravens before retiring.

Anderson admits his main motivation that season was proving the Bengals wrong — but he says it was fans online who brought him back over.

“I’m gonna tell you what happened with me — the fans on Twitter and social media changed my mind,” Anderson told The Athletic’s Jay Morrison. “I let that go because the fans showed me so much love and appreciation. There was no social media around when I got cut, so you didn’t see the reactions of the fans when that happened. Like when Whit left, we all saw it and saw they were ready to riot and tear the damn town down. But when I left, I didn’t see any of that.”

Anderson went on to say he wishes some of his former teammates — like Corey Dillon — could feel the love on social media to understand just how much fans embraced them and still do.

It’s a fun anecdote from Anderson, the Bengals Ring of Honor member and Pro Football Hall of Fame finalist, as well as an illustration of just how much voice and sway fanbases can have in this online era.

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Bengals great Willie Anderson wants to see Corey Dillon in the Hall of Fame

Willie Anderson used his Ring of Honor presser to talk up a fellow great.

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Cincinnati Bengals legend Willie Anderson is one of the four team greats going into the Ring of Honor this year.

But Anderson took a moment during his press conference after the announcement on Wednesday to talk up another franchise great — running back Corey Dillon.

According to Geoff Hobson of Bengals.com, Anderson singled out Dillon as a guy who should be in the Hall of Fame, as well as Chad Johnson, Ken Riley and Ken Anderson.

But it’s Dillon that might stick out the most for some here.

A second-round pick in 1997, Dillon remained with the team through the 2003 season before getting traded. Things weren’t always great between player and team, so say the least of it, but he’s still one of the most prolific backs in team history and he went on to win a Super Bowl before calling it a career in 2006.

While fans might be split on Dillon for a spot like this, it says a lot about his impact and Anderson himself that his name’s in headlines right now.

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Bengals great Willie Anderson comments on Hall of Fame snub

Willie Anderson’s Hall of Fame bid for 2022 got revealed on Thursday night.

Former Cincinnati Bengals great Willie Anderson was one of 10 finalists to not make the Hall of Fame this year.

Anderson, a finalist for the Pro Football Hall of Fame for the first time in his ninth year of eligibility, was a top-10 pick by the Bengals in 1996.

One of the best right tackles of his generation, Anderson had a serious shot at enshrinement with heavyweight names like Steve Hutchinson and Alan Faneca finally making it into the Hall.

Instead, the class is as follows:

  • LeRoy Butler
  • Bryant Young
  • Sam Mills
  • Cliff Branch
  • Richard Seymour
  • Art McNally
  • Tony Boselli
  • Dick Vermeil

This was a huge ordeal for the Bengals franchise even as Joe Burrow and Co. advanced to Super Bowl LVI. The franchise has the fewest players of any in the Hall of Fame.

To his credit, Anderson has known and was nothing but cheerful after the fact:

Now that Anderson’s been in the room as a finalist, it feels like it could be the jumpstart needed to get him in soon.

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Bengals great Willie Anderson named Hall of Fame finalist

Big Willie is one of 15 candidates for the HoF this year.

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In his ninth year of eligibility, Cincinnati Bengals modern great and right tackle Willie Anderson is a finalist for the Pro Football Hall of Fame for the first time.

Anderson, a top-10 pick by the Bengals in 1996, remained in Cincinnati through the 2007 season and was well ahead of his time as a right tackle when it came to his efficiency in pass protection.

Considered one of the best right tackles of all time, Anderson getting in via his first time as a finalist would help massage the fact the Bengals have the fewest players of any franchise in the Hall of Fame.

With the offensive tackle logjam clearing a bit in recent years via enshrinements for the likes of Steve Hutchinson and Alan Faneca, Anderson’s got a real shot.

Anderson is the first member of the Bengals on the ballot since Anthony Munoz and Ken Anderson in 1998.

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